AIMS Tardive Dyskinesia Scale: Exam and TD Screen

What it measures

The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) is a clinician-rated examination for detecting and monitoring tardive dyskinesia and other abnormal involuntary movements. The tool includes the standard 12-step examination procedure, with activation maneuvers such as finger tapping, arms extended, and walking, so the exam can be run in the same order each time.

Items and scoring

Items 1–7 rate movements from 0 (none) to 4 (severe) in seven areas, grouped into three subtotals:

Group	Items	Range
Facial and oral (facial expression, lips, jaw, tongue)	1–4	0–16
Extremities (upper, lower)	5–6	0–8
Trunk (neck, shoulders, hips)	7	0–4
Total movement score	1–7	0–28

Items 8–10 are global judgments (overall severity, incapacitation, and the patient's awareness and distress), and items 11–12 record dental status. These are reported but not added to the total.

Interpreting the result

The tardive dyskinesia screen uses the Schooler–Kane criterion: positive when two or more areas (items 1–7) are rated 2 (mild) or higher, or one area is rated 3 (moderate) or higher. Global item 8 is reported but does not make the screen positive by itself. The AIMS has no validated total-score severity bands. The tool shows the total in descriptive ranges (1–7, 8–14, 15–21, 22–28) only after items 1–7 are all rated, and directs severity judgments to the screen and item 8. A positive screen should prompt review of risk factors, length of antipsychotic exposure, and age, and other movement disorders should be ruled out.

What the report includes

The copyable report lists the date, each item rating, the three subtotals, the total, the screen result with the criterion used, any items rated 2 or higher, the global and dental items, and the scoring notes. The scale's reference is Guy's ECDEU Assessment Manual (1976). Unrated items count as 0, so complete the full examination before interpreting.